Massachusetts
Massachusetts immigrant support group ‘very sad’ over hate and ‘misinformation’: ‘These people are incredible’
A local immigrant support group that helps house newly arrived refugees and asylum seekers is pushing back against the hate and “misinformation,” as volunteers offer to open up their homes to migrants.
There has been a flood of negative and hateful social media posts in reaction to the Immigrant Support Alliance’s event on Monday — during which the Melrose-area volunteers let people know what it’s like to be a host home for a newly arrived immigrant.
Some of those hateful posts about the information session included incorrect references to housing “illegal immigrants.”
“This is the temperature right now, and it’s sad. It’s sad,” said Rabbi Jessica Lowenthal of Melrose’s Temple Beth Shalom, where the information session was being held on Monday.
“A lot of misinformation is out there,” Lowenthal added. “A lot of people think these are just people coming in undocumented, and they have a lot of feelings about it. They (the migrants) are incredibly vetted by the U.S. through asylum and immigrant channels.”
Paul Belfanti, president of the Immigrant Support Alliance, also said he was “very sad” when he saw those hateful reactions to the event, which was called “Exploring the Host Home Experience.”
“They’re clearly so misinformed,” Belfanti said, later adding, “I’m sure the people who are spewing this bile have never spent time with a newly arrived immigrant. These people are incredible and so resilient and hard-working. They’ve been through so much.”
The Immigrant Support Alliance partners with resettlement agencies to provide food, housing, financial and social support to newly arrived migrants. It takes several months for the migrants to get work authorizations, so they need help in the meantime.
The volunteers will help the migrants with housing, transportation to a medical appointment or the grocery store, practicing English with them, or teaching them computer skills. The housing commitment is typically for three months.
“We’re just one drop in an enormous bucket,” Belfanti said.
“As soon as they can start working, any financial support starts to diminish over time until they become financially independent, and they can be on their own,” he added.
The information session on Monday included volunteers who have served as hosts to both individuals and families. About 30 people showed up.
“It went really well,” Belfanti said. “A few people said they were genuinely interested in hosting.
“There are a lot of people out there who want to do something,” he added. “They genuinely want to help.”
Immigrant support groups like these have been around for several years.
Last year amid a growing shelter and migrant crisis, state officials asked Bay State residents to house immigrant families. Elon Musk last week indirectly criticized Gov. Maura Healey’s handling of immigration, saying “now they want your homes too” in a repost of an August news story on the administration’s efforts to find more housing for homeless families.
“They’ve run out of hotel rooms, are kicking kids out of school for illegal housing and now they want your homes too,” Musk said in a social media post.
Massachusetts is not removing students from school to create more shelter space nor are migrants living in state-run shelters considered illegal, as they have been lawfully allowed into the United States by the federal government.
Nancy Lane/Boston Herald Migrants get screened and services at the migrant work authorization clinic at Camp Curtis Guild in Reading. (Nancy Lane/Boston Herald)
Life Care Center of Raynham has received a deficiency‑free inspection result from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, a distinction awarded to a small share of the state’s licensed nursing homes, according to a community announcement.
The inspection was conducted as part of the state’s routine, unannounced nursing home survey process overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These comprehensive, multi‑day inspections evaluate multiple aspects of facility operations, including staffing levels, quality of care, medication management, cleanliness, food service and resident rights.
State survey records show that Life Care Center of Raynham met required standards during its most recent standard survey, with no deficiencies cited, based on publicly available state data.
The announcement states that fewer than 8% of Massachusetts nursing homes achieve deficiency‑free survey results. That figure could not be independently verified through state or federal data and is attributed to the announcement.
In addition to the state survey outcome, the facility is listed as a five‑star provider for quality measures on the federal Medicare Care Compare website. The five‑star quality measure rating reflects above‑average performance compared with other nursing homes nationwide, according to federal rating methodology.
Officials said the inspection results reflect ongoing compliance with state and federal standards designed to protect resident health and safety. According to the announcement, the outcome is attributed to staff performance and internal quality practices.
This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
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Massachusetts residents love their beach towns.
And Condé Nast Magazine loves two particular beach towns in the Bay State, but surprisingly didn’t pick a beach on Cape Cod.
That’s why the towns were included on the magazine’s 2025 list of the 17 best beach towns on the East Coast.
“Whether you’re looking to lay out on the sand in summer or prefer walking along the water spotting wildlife and collecting rocks, the shores of the East Coast have a little something for everyone,” Condé Nast stated on its website.
Here’s more about the magazine’s favorite beach towns in Massachusetts.
Oak Bluffs ranked No. 5 on the list
Coming in at number 5 is one of the most popular spots on Martha’s Vineyard – Oak Bluffs.
What they said: “The colorful gingerbread houses for which Oak Bluffs is known are straight out of a storybook. Visitors walk straight off their boats into Ocean Park, a circular green overlooking the sea, encircled by said houses, with a frothy, delicate gazebo sitting in the center. Oak Bluffs has a long history of welcoming Black visitors, and today it is home to the annual African-American Film Festival.”
Rockport ranked No. 4 on the list
Rockport is a town on the North Shore of the Bay State.
What they said: “The coastal region is known for its excellent seafood, beautiful beaches, and historic landmarks. Many a good film has been filmed here as well, such as Martin Scorsese’s ‘Shutter Island’ and Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘Manchester-by-the-Sea.’
“Forty miles north of Boston, (Rockport) has a can’t-miss natural gem in Halibut Point State Park, from which visitors can spot Maine in the distance 80 miles away. Rockport is also beloved by art history buffs: it is home to Motif Number 1, a fishing shack with the superlative ‘the most-often painted building in America.’ It was built in 1840, and was a popular subject because it represented New England’s nautical character.”
What other regions of New England are on the list?
According to Condé Nast, they include:
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Kennebunkport, Maine
- Newport, Rhode Island
- Hampton Beach, New Hampshire
- Madison, Connecticut
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